Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
06:15
Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus
Published on: March 6, 2019
The ALS Home Health and Durable Medical Equipment Medical Standard Expert Consensus Guideline
Muscle & Nerve
|June 19, 2026
Summary
New guidelines offer expert consensus on home health services and durable medical equipment (DME) for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. This aims to improve care, safety, and quality of life for individuals with ALS living at home.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Health Services Research
- Gerontology
Background:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presents significant disability and complex care needs, often managed at home.
- Current US guidelines inadequately address home health services and durable medical equipment (DME) for ALS patients.
- A gap exists in defining medically necessary home-based care standards for individuals with ALS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish expert consensus guidance on minimum medical standards for home health services and DME for ALS patients.
- To enhance patient outcomes, safety, and quality of life through improved home-based care.
- To provide stage-responsive recommendations for proactive, anticipatory care aligned with ALS progression.
Main Methods:
- Development by a multidisciplinary task force convened by the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM).
- Incorporated a scoping literature review, stakeholder engagement (patients, caregivers, advocacy groups), and iterative expert consensus.
- Recommendations informed by clinical expertise, patient-centered priorities, and existing policy frameworks.
Main Results:
- Outlines stage-responsive home healthcare recommendations across nursing, therapy, respiratory support, nutrition, and social work.
- Defines medically necessary DME for mobility, communication, respiratory support, and daily living activities.
- Emphasizes proactive, anticipatory care, coordinated interdisciplinary services, continuous reassessment, caregiver support, and palliative care integration.
Conclusions:
- Establishes a foundational standard for ALS home-based care in the United States.
- Adoption of these recommendations can reduce care delays and prevent complications.
- Aims to support sustained independence and dignity for individuals with ALS.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Documentation in long-term care facilities and home healthcare settings is crucial for ensuring continuous, coordinated, and comprehensive care for patients. Each setting has its specific documentation processes and tools:
Long-Term Care Facilities
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:19Standards of Care II
Nurses bear specific legal responsibilities under several federal statutes, including:
01:19Restorative Care
Restorative care is provided once a patient has been discharged from a healthcare facility and requires additional services. The additional services include home care, rehabilitation programs, and extended care. Restorative care centers help the patient regain their previous level of functioning or acquire a new level of functioning due to the incapacitating effects of a disease or a disability. It aims to assist patients in enhancing their quality of life by encouraging independence,...
01:22Standards of Care I
Federal statutes profoundly impact nursing practice, providing critical guidelines to ensure patient care is equitable, accessible, and of the highest quality. The following laws address distinct aspects of healthcare provision and patient rights:
01:30Heart Failure V: Medical Management
Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...
01:11Guidelines for Writing Outcome
When developing expected outcomes for a patient care plan, the nurse should adhere to the following recommendations:
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care evaluation by...
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care evaluation by...